The life and public services of Abraham Lincoln ... together with his state papers, including his speeches, addresses, messages, letters, and proclamations, and the closing scenes connected with his life and death. By Henry J. Raymond. To which are added anecdotes and personal reminiscences of President Lincoln, by Frank B. Carpenter.

STATE PAPERS OF ABRAIAM LINCOLN.

249

powers conferred by the Constitution in cases of insurrection, I would
mlake an effort to save it, with all its blessings, for the present age and for
posterity. I thereupon sultnoned my constitutional advisers, tile Ieads
of all the departments, to meet on Sunday, the twentieth day of April,
1861, at the office of the Navy Department, and then and there, with their
unanimous concurrence, I directed that an armled revenue cutter should
proceed to sea to afford protection to the commercial marine, especially
to the California treasure-ships, then on their way to this coast. I also
directed the Commandant of the Navy Yard at Boston to purchase or
charter, and arm, as quickly as possible, five steamships for purposes of
public defence. I directed the Commandant of tle Navy Yard at Philadelphia to purchase or charter, and arm, an equal number for the same
purpose. I directed the Commandant at New York to purcliase or charter, and arm, an equal number. I directed Commnander Gillis to purchase
or charter, and arm and put to sea, two other vessels. Siluilar directions
were given to Commodore Du Pont, with a view to the openling of passages by water to and from the Capital. I directed the several officers to
take the advice and obtain the aid and efficient services in the Imatter of
his Excellency Edwin D. Morgan, the Governor of New York; or, in his
absence, George D. Morgan, Wmi. M. Evarts, R. M. Blatchford, and Moses
H. Grinnell, who were, by my directions, especially empowered by tlle
Secretary of tie Navy to act for his departmlent in that crisis, inl matters
pertaining to the forwarding of troops and supplies for the public defence.
On the same occasion I directed that Governor Morgan and Alexander
Cuummings, of the City of New York, should be authorized by the Secretary of War, Simon Camerou, to make all necessary arrangements for
the transportation of troops and munitions of war in aid alnd assistance of the officers of the army of the United States, until communication by mails and telegraph should be completely re-established between
the cities of Washington and New York. No security was required to
be given by them, and either of themn was authorized to act in case of
inability to consult with the other. On the same occasion I authorized
and directed the Secretary of the Treasury to advance, without requirirg security, two millions of dollars of public money to John A. Dix,
George Opdyke, and Richard M. Blatchford, of New York, to be used
by them in meeting such requisitions as should be directly consequent
upon the military and naval measures for the defence and support of
the Government, requiring them only to act without compensation, and
to report their transactions when duly called upon. The several departments of the Government at that time contained so large a number
of disloyal persons that it would have been impossible to provide safely
through official agents only, for the performance of the duties thus confided to citizens favorably known for their ability, loyalty, and patriotism. The several orders issued upon these occurrences were transmitted by private messengers, who pursued a circuitous way to tho